Criminal Justice News

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Fugitive Wanted for $2.8 Million Gold Heist Captured in Belize and Returned to U.S. to Face Charges

Washington – The international manhunt for a man wanted for
allegedly committing armed robbery in Coral Gables, Fla., and making off with
more than 100 pounds of gold has ended. The fugitive was captured and is back
on U.S. soil after being deported today from Belize.

Raonel Valdez-Valhuerdis, 34, was detained Feb. 18 in Belize
after he was stopped by Belize immigration officials while crawling through
some bushes at the Guatemala/Belize border. Valdez had a Cuban passport in his
possession, but the passport did not bear an immigration stamp documenting his
entry into that country.

The immigration officers quickly realized not only did they
stop a subject from entering their country illegally, but they had also just
captured an international fugitive wanted for allegedly committing the biggest
gold heist ever in Florida history.

“Working in conjunction with the government of Belize, we
have brought back to South Florida a violent fugitive who will be prosecuted
for his alleged crimes,” said Amos Rojas, U.S. Marshal for the Southern
District of Florida.

The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force
adopted the Valdez case in May 2013 as a task force fugitive investigation
since it was believed that Valdez had fled the United States.

Once Valdez was detained in Belize, investigators from the
U.S. Marshals Service International Investigations Branch in Washington, D.C.,
quickly alerted the U.S. Embassy that a fugitive wanted in South Florida had
been detained in that country.

On Oct. 12, 2012, an employee for a Bolivian Export company
walked out of his apartment building in Coral Gables, only to be met allegedly
by Valdez and two other unidentified men. It is alleged that Valdez pointed a
gun at the employee and said, “We are only here for the gold.” Valdez is
alleged to have struck the victim in the face and held the victim at gunpoint
while his two accomplices grabbed the two suitcases filled with more than 100
pounds of gold flakes valued at approximately $2.8 million.

At the time of the armed robbery, Valdez was wearing a court
ordered GPS ankle monitor as a result of a previous arrest.

Coral Gables police detectives investigating the gold heist
received a tip that Valdez was the mastermind behind the gold robbery. Coral
Gables police detectives analyzed the GPS locations on Valdez’ ankle monitor
that confirmed Valdez was at the scene of the crime at the exact time the
victim was robbed. A further analysis of the GPS locations for weeks prior to
the armed gold robbery showed that Valdez appeared to be conducting his own
surveillance of the gold broker’s residence.

According to an Oct. 22, 2012, police report, the victim
positively identified Valdez from a photographic lineup. That same day, Coral
Gables police detectives arrested Valdez for allegedly committing the armed
gold heist. Subsequently, a Miami Dade County Circuit judge released Valdez on
a $75,000 bond. Valdez failed to appear for any future court hearings, and an
arrest warrant was issued March 20, 2013, charging him with armed robbery with
a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft of
more than $100,000 and altering/tampering with an electronic monitor. Another
arrest warrant was issued April 4, 2013, charging Valdez with probation violation.

The Cuban passport in Valdez’ possession was issued Dec. 28,
2012, two months after the fugitive is alleged to have committed the armed
robbery of the gold. The passport was issued in Washington, D.C.

Valdez is currently being held in the Miami Dade County
Jail.

his arrest and successful extradition has been the result of
the combined efforts of the U.S. Marshals Service, Miami Dade Police
Department, Coral Gables Police Department, U.S. Department of State – Regional
Security Office – Belize, Department of Justice – Office of International
Affairs and Interpol.